The provincial government is investing $100,000 in a new initiative to enhance the honey bee industry in Prince Edward Island, says Agriculture Minister George Webster.
“The honey bee industry is an important link in our agriculture industry as it provides pollination services to a variety of crops such as blueberries and canola. Improving the viability of the honey bee industry can have dramatic impacts on yields in blueberry production,” said Minister Webster. “The Honey Bee Development Initiative, which focuses on enhancing breeding, skills training and beehive tracking will be instrumental to the long-term viability of this industry and the crops which it impacts.”
The initiative is comprised of four programs.
The Honey Bee Expansion Program will foster the commercial development of the honey bee industry on Prince Edward Island. Applicants must make their honey bee colonies available for pollination services within the province to support the increasing demand for honey bee colonies by the wild blueberry industry.
The Honey Bee Skilled Labour Program will support training for existing employees or new employees of commercial honey bee operations who show potential for increased effectiveness within those operations. This training will help disease identification and management from becoming limiting factors which result in poor health of the colonies and eventually high overwintering losses.
The Honey Bee Genetic Stock Selection Program encourages local beekeepers to select their best stock and then propagate that stock to the point where strong queens may perform well under local conditions.
The Honey Bee Colony Tracking Pilot Project assists with the implementation of an integrated honey bee colony tracking system using modern tracking and records management technology. This will result in better knowledge of disease status, hive management and ultimately increased hive numbers within the province.
Mr. Webster said the wild blueberry industry in the province has been under expansion for several years. The increased acreage has dramatically increased the demand for honey bee colonies to the point where Prince Edward Island has a heavy reliance on bee imports from Nova Scotia. It has been difficult for Prince Edward Island beekeepers to keep pace with demand to the point where the blueberry industry imports close to half its colony requirements annually to pollinate the crop. Blueberry pollination services cost growers upwards of $700,000 annually. Effective pollination ensures growers obtain maximum yields.
The honey bee industry has faced many challenges in recent years. Increased pest and disease pressures, high overwintering losses, and a lack of local genetics and skilled labour have hindered expansion within the province.
“This is another example of the provincial government working in partnership for a proactive and profitable agriculture industry,” said Mr. Webster.